The following is the text of the letters that past between American
Admiral George Dewey and General Merritt and Spanish Governor General Jaudenes
which led to the surrender of the city after a naval demonstration of force.

The Letters:

Letter 1:

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES LAND AND NAVAL FORCES, MANILA BAY, PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS,

August 7th, 1898.TO THE GENERAL IN CHIEF,

Commanding Spanish Forces in Manila.

Sir:

We have the honor to notify your Excellency that operations of the
land and naval forces of the United States against the defenses of Manila
may begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours from the
hour of receipt by you of this communication, or sooner if made necessary
by an attack on your part.

This notice is given in order to afford you an opportunity to remove
all non-combatants from the city.

Very respectfully,

WESLEY MERRITT,Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Land forces of the United
States.

GEORGE DEWEY,Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy, Commanding United States Naval Force on
Asiatic Station.

Letter 2:

MANILA, August 7, 1898.

TO THE MAJOR-GENERAL OF THE ARMY,AND THE REAR-ADMIRAL OF THE NAVY,

Commanding respectively the Military and Naval forces of the United
States.

Gentlemen:

I have the honor to inform Your Excellencies that at half-past twelve
today I received the notice with which you favor me, that after forty-eight
hours have elapsed you may begin operations against this fortified city,
or at an earlier hour if the forces under your command are attacked by
mine.

As your notice is sent for the purpose of providing for the safety
of non-combatants, I give thanks to Your Excellencies for the humane sentiments
you have shown, and state that, finding myself surrounded by insurrectionary
forces, I am without places of refuge for the increased numbers of wounded,
sick, women and children, who are now lodged within the walls.

Very respectfully, and kissing the hands of your Excellencies,

FERMIN JAUDENES,Governor-General and Captain-General of the Philippines.

Letter 3:

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES LAND AND NAVAL FORCES MANILA BAY, PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS

August 9, 1898.

Sir:

The inevitable suffering in store for the wounded, sick, women and
children, in the event that it becomes our duty to reduce the defenses
of the walled town in which they are gathered, will, we feel assured, appeal
successfully to the sympathies of a general capable of making the determined
and prolonged resistance which Your Excellency has exhibited after the
loss of your naval forces, and without hope of succor.

We therefore submit, without prejudice to the high sentiments of
honor and duty which Your Excellency entertains, that surrounded on every
side as you are by a constantly increasing force,with a powerful fleet
in your front, and deprived of all prospect of reinforcement and assistance,
a most useless sacrifice of life would result in the event of an attack,
and therefore every consideration of humanity makes it imperative that
you should not subject your city to the horrors of a bombardment. Accordingly
we demand the surrender of the city of Manila, and the Spanish forces under
yourcommand.

Very Respectfully,

WESLEY MERRITT,Major-General, USA, Commanding Land Forces of the United States.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE
MAJOR-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, AND THE REAR-ADMIRAL OF THE NAVY,

Commanding respectively the Military and Naval

Force of the United States.

Gentlemen;

Having received an intimation from Your Excellencies that, in obedience
to sentiments of humanity to which you appeal and which I share, I should
surrender this city and the forces under my orders, I have assembled the
Council of Defense which declares that your request cannot be granted,
but taking account of the most exceptional circumstances existing in this
city which Your Excellencies recite and which I unfortunately have to admit,
I would consult my Government if Your Excellencies will grant the time
strictly necessary for this communication by way of Hong Kong.

Very respectfully, FERMIN JAUDENES,Governor-General and Captain-General of the Philippines,

Letter 5:

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES LAND AND NAVAL FORCES,

MANILA BAY, August 10th, 1898.

TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES ISLANDS.

Sir:

We have the honor to acknowledge the communication of Your Excellency
of the 8th instant, in which you suggest your desire to consult your government
in regard to the exceptional circumstances in your city, provided the time
to do so can be granted by us.

In reply we respectfully inform Your Excellency that we decline to
grant the time requested.

Very respectfully,

WESLEY MERRITT,Major-General, US Army, Commanding United States Land Forces.

GEORGE DEWEY,Rear-Admiral US Navy, Commanding United States Naval Forces, Asiatic
Station.

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